STD Treatment

 

MASH-ER (Monitoring Asymptomatic STDs/HIV in the ER)

The Monitoring Asymptomatic STDs/HIV in the ER (MASH-ER) project, started in 2001 and led by Robert Weinstein, MD, had three main objectives: 1) Identify asymptomatic infections and increase the number of HIV, gonorrhea and Chlamydia infected individuals who are identified and appropriately treated; 2) Evaluate the acceptance and outcome of providing STD counseling and recommending gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV testing to ER patients as a routine part of services provided; and 3) Determine if it is feasible to offer these additional services in a busy inner-city adult emergency department. Dr. Weinstein and his team carried out this STD screening project at John H. Stroger, Jr., Hospital of Cook County (formerly Cook County Hospital). Stroger Hospital, serving a poor, inner city minority population, has the busiest ED in Chicago with more than 120,000 visits per year.